Thursday, May 29, 2008

I admit I love to show my dogs and have shown some of the finest Havanese around. But my dogs are definitely pets first and show dogs second. Even my Westminster multiple BIS dual Champion Yup's Cohiba Esplendido has always been a pet first and foremost. See more of Coby at http://www.myladhavanese.com/

Some show dogs live in crates, kennels and wire flooring for all their show lives - mine let me live with them, they are in my kitchen, living room, bedroom, backyard, car and even pool. Sure they get dirty I just wash them a lot.

Show dogs get bathed and groomed at least twice a week, the white ones and the males more like three times a week. By the time they are shown in the ring at around 6 months they are so use to bathing and grooming they make it pretty effortless.

I just love the Havanese long silky clean coat, you can bury your hands and face right in it. It's a lovely feeling, soft cuddly coat. A clean long coat is a beautiful thing.

So if you think you want to try showing some important things to remember;

You will groom A LOT

You will train A LOT

You will never have another free weekend to yourself

You will travel a lot

You will have a great bonding experience with your dog - my dogs love shows they sleep in my bed and have my one on one attention for the whole weekend

You will work hard - shows are a lot of work and very exhausting

You will meet some great doggie people

You will love some judges and detest some others

You will be ticked off about the politics but be thrilled when you win

You will spend money - more than anyone should spend on their dog :)

You will get up at 5:00 am to groom your dog, you will get home at 1:00 am on Sunday

You will worry worry worry about how to potty your dog in the rain, snow and sleet and keep his coat ready for the ring

You will worry worry worry if your dog does not potty before ringtime in case he/she does it in the ring

You will be embarrassed sometimes and make lots of mistakes initially

You will learn a tremendous amount about your breed, what they should look like, what temperament they should have, what the judges are trained to see in your breed, what a good Havanese is and what a bad Havanese is

You will get way more opinions than you asked for or want on your dogs

You will get so much information for other show people and breeders that you actually didn't know and need to know - information on shots, health, testing, temperaments, confirmation, products etc. etc.

You will become addicted and end up with 10 dogs living in your house just like me - and we would not want it any other way.

The Havanese

Blog Archive

About Me

Hi this is my first attempt at blogging so I'm sure I will get better with experience. We live in lovely Langley BC and show and breed Havanese. I hope to provide fun and interesting information on this terrific little dog. Enjoy the blog and feel free to post any suggestions and comments

My Favorite Links

MBIS BISS CH Yup's Cohiba Esplendido

Coby's Win at Westminster

The Big Westminster Win

This was just an unreal experience for me. I left from Vancouver to New York in Feburary of this year excited to see the largest, most pretigious dog show in North America. I love New York so I was very excited about the trip. My beautiful boy Coby Yup's Cohiba Esplendido was going to show at Westminster so I was also very excited to be able to watch him.

Well he won the Breed Competion and I just could not believe it- my cell phone started ringing within 10 minutes from family and supporters.

I barely noticed what went on in the ring the rest of the day but arrived back at the show in the evening to see the Group Winners. No Havanese has ever won a Toy Group Placement at Westminster - so just seeing him in the competition with the top dogs in the world was special enough. My family was all watching at home on TV. Well when the judge gave him a Group 3 Placement - History was made. If any of you were watching and heard a scream when the Toy Group winners were announced that was me - I was sitting right beside the camera.